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No. 751,492, PATBNTBD FEB. 9, 1904.

J. W. FRASER. I GRIBWORK OR THE LIKE.

4 APPLICATION FILED 00'1. 16, 190 3.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET}.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

PATENTBD FEB. 9, 1904;

.' .FRASER.

CRIBWORK OR THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.16, 1903.

80 MODEL.

.bers.

UNITED STATES Patented February 9, 1904.

JOSEPH W. FRASER, OTTAWA, CANADA.

CRIBWORKTOR'THE LIKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 751,492, dated February9, 1904.

' Application filed October 16,1903.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOSEPH W. FRASER, a subject of the King of GreatBritain, residing at Ottawa, in the county of Carleton, in the Provinceof Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCribwork or the Like, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to cribwork and the like, the constructionand advantages of'which will be hereinafter fully set forth.

Under the present invention or system the use of two distinct ordifferent materials is contemplated, the lower. portion of the cribwork,which is constantly submerged, being composed of timbers, while theupper portion or superstructure is formed of] artificial stone or cementwork, thecement members preferably having the general shape, of tim-These latter members or timbers, as they may be termed, are moldedbefore being placed in position. The lower or timber portion proper willbe sotreated as to render it proof against the attack of the teredo(when submerged in salt water) or other marine life.

As will be readily seen, the superstructure, by

reason of the material of which it is composed,

is proof against the attack of limnoria, and the entire cribwork is thuspermanently protected. Furthermore, the woodensubstructure beingconstantly submergedis never exposed to the air, which condition alsotends to prolong its life. The advantages derived from the employment ofa structure of this character are many, both from the constructors pointof view andalso as regards stability and duration. Itis well knownby'those who have had experience in the constructionof crib- Work,first, that timber of dilferent kinds is the only material which, up tothepresent time, has been successfully utilized in the construction ofcribwork; second, that cribwork composed of timbers is perishable,having only short duration when exposed to the weather and requiring thereconstruction of its superstructure about every eight years; third,that sometimes the timbers composing the exterior surface of the body ofthe cribwork donot offer sufficient resistance to the Serial No.177,294. (No model.)

' By the use of the system which I have devised the above objections tocribwork as at present constructed are practically overcome. Thesubstitution of concrete in the superstructure for the ordinary timberheretofore employed insures a permanent cribwork, as repairs will not berequired unless the structure should become accidentally-damaged. Incase of injury by accident the superstructure may be as. easily repairedas timber cribwork. The employment of concrete to formthe differentpieces of the superstructure rendersthe cribwork sufliciently strong towithstand the destructive action of the elements and the pressure anderoding effect of ice-floes. Y Y

Under my present invention the substruc- ,ture may be started and builtafloat for half of its height; more or less. with timbers which havebeen creosoted or treated in any other desired manner. The concretepieces are then put in place until the timber portion or substructurehas almost 'lost its buoyancy, at which time the cribwork may beset inposition (if found high enough to reach the surface of the water afterit is sunk to the bottom) by-adding more concrete pieces. This method ofsinking obviates the necessity of piling stones on top of a crib to setit in position.

the whole structure, together-with the scows, 7

can be sunk. The scows will, of course, afterward be floated. Thismethod renders the work of starting'the permanent construction under lowwater very easy, which is not usuvally the case, especially inconnection with If it be found that the timber utilized doesretaining-walls, as it is difficult and expensive to prepare afoundation under water.

Where the substructure is not subjected to the attack of worms, thatportion of the cribwork may be composed of timber in its natural state,for, as is well known, wood which is constantly submerged is notperishable. Again, the interior of the superstructure may be builtpartly of untreated timber, especially if the chambers of the cribworkare to be filled with earth, which will have the effect of burying thetimbers and insuring their preservation. The use of this earth fillingis practical as regards both permanence and economy, but it cannot beemployed with cribwork composed entirely of timber.

The necessity for the use of cofier-dams and the like is obviated withmy invention. In the case of retaining-walls this system of concretecribwork can be adopted with great advantage and ata considerablereduction in cost. Retaining-walls of a permanent nature are generallybuilt of heavy masonry or of monolithic concrete, requiring anartificial foundation if formed on soft material. The same may be saidof heavy lock-walls forming the chamber of a lock and applies equally aswell to dry-dock walls, abutments of bridges,breakwaters, jetties, andthe like. In tidal water it is difficult to build concrete in place, asthe constant rising of the tide washes away a portion of the cementbefore the concrete is set. Besides this, the large molds required arein constant danger of being damaged by the waves, ships, &c., whileunder my system no such molds are required in exposed places, as

I all parts are formed upon the land or upon barges or vesselsespecially designed for this purpose.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a cribworkconstructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, a top plan viewthereof; Fig. 3, a perspective view showing portions of two of theconcrete members, and Fig. 4: a sectional view showing amodification ofthe invention.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, A denotesthesubstructure,composed of a series of timbers B, by preference,suitably notched in order to lock the parts or members together. Thisportion of the oribworklies below the extreme low-water line of riversor lakes or below the extreme low water of spring tides when thestructure is built where tides The particular composition of theconcrete employed is immaterial so long as the resulting member issufficiently stable for the purpose 1n view. Again, the particular formor contour of the members is immaterial, it be ing only necessary thatthey are capable of being readily handled and assembled. It is of courseessential that the members be so formed that they may be securelyfastened together, as well as to the substructure, and with this end inview they are notched or recessed, as shown in Fig. 3 or'in any othersuitable manner, this being merely a matter of detail of construction.By preference each member and also the timbers of the substructure willbe provided with an openingl) at the points where the various membersand timbers intersect, and iron rods E are passed down into theseopenings after the cribwork is completed, the openings beingsubsequently filled with grout. Any other suitable arrangement may ofcourse be adopted for tying the whole structure together.

If desired, the superstructure may be sheathed, as shown in Fig. 4,recesses F being formed in the outer faces of the concrete members inthe process of molding for the reception of bolts G, which are securedtherein by cement or the like. The sheathing H is in turn secured inplace by the bolts.

Under certain conditions it may be found desirable to fill in thecribwork, and in such event the sheathing will be found desirable,though not absolutely essential. The structure illustrated in Fig. 4: isshown as filled.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is

1. In a cribwork or the like, the eombination of a substructure composedof timber; and a superstructure composed of concrete members formedpreviously to their being put in place.

2. In a cribwork or the like, the combination of a substructure composedof timber; a superstructure composed of concrete members; and means forsecuring the various parts together.

3. In a cribwork or the like, the combination of a substructure composedof treated timbers; and a superstructure composed of concrete members,said members being formed previously to their being put in place.

4. In a cribwork or the like, the combination of a substructure composedof treated timbers; a superstructure composed of concrete members, saidmembers being formed previously to their being put in place; and meansfor securing the various members together.

5. A cribwork having itssuperstructure composed of concrete members,said members being formed previously to their being put in place.

6. A cribwork having its superstructure composed of a series ofinterlocked concrete members.

7. A cribwork having its superstructure composed of a series of concretemembers,

said members being formed previously to their being put in position; andmeans for securing said members together.

8. A cribwork having its superstructure composed of a series of concretemembers, said members being formed previously to their being put inposition; and a series of rods passing down through said members attheir points of intersection, substantially as described.

9.- A cribwork having its superstructure composed of a series ofinterlocking concrete members, said members being formed previalinedopenings in the various members; and

a filling placed in the openings, substantially as described.

11. In a cribwork or the like, the combination of a superstructurecomposed of a series of concrete members, said members being formedpreviously to their being put in position; a substructure of timbers;and a series of rods extending down through alining openings formed inthe concrete members and the timbers, substantially as described.

12. A cribwork having its superstructure composed of a series ofconcrete members formed previously to their being put in place, combinedwith a sheathing secured to the outer face of the cribwork. I

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe'presence of two subscribing witnesses. JOSEPH W. FRASER.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR ST. LAURENT, R. J. ROBILLARD.

